Tips

The Publication and Printing staff is available to help you make printing decisions,
but it is a good idea to have several basics in mind before you bring in your print
request. To place a job or to obtain an estimate, you will be asked about:

The number of copies you want to have duplicated or printed.

Type of paper and which ink colors to be used.

Pictures or artwork to be used.

How you would like for the publication to be finished or bound.

The account number to be charged.

When delivery is needed.

Begin Early

With 10 million impressions printed on campus each year, and 30 to 40 jobs in progress
on any given day, it is a good idea to begin your planning early. There are many steps
involved in getting your print job to the press, and you will want time to read each
proof carefully. If you allow more time than you think you will need, you will enjoy
a more pleasant, stress-free process.

Rush Jobs

Rush jobs are accommodated whenever possible. Emergencies are unavoidable, and the
staff will do all that is possible to help in those instances. However, delaying scheduled
jobs to work on an emergency can disrupt the smooth flow of planned production, leading
to errors and possible compromise in quality. To avoid that, you might want to check
your supply of brochures, NCR forms and other printed pieces on a regular basis. Some
offices schedule times relating to anticipated work flow and add a note to "check
printing inventory" on their calendars.

Quick-Copy or Offset?

You'll want to know which jobs can be quick-copied, and which are more cost-effective
for offset printing. The guidelines are:

Quick-Copy:

Faster production time

Automated collating, stapling, and hole punch

In-line booklet-making

Offset:

More cost effective for larger quantities because of multiple pages per press sheet

Multiple-part (NCR) forms, although new technology makes possible quick copying for some
NCR

Envelopes

Panel cards

Photographs

It is best to provide an original, high-quality photo for most printing work. Avoid
writing on the back of the photo because marks may show through when the photo is
reproduced. It is important to avoid attaching anything to the photo with a paper
clip or staple that may scratch the surface. If necessary, use a paper clip with a
layer of folded paper between the metal and the photo.

Digital photos: Must be taken at a high resolution to reproduce well. The standard for printing is
300 dpi (dots per inch). Photographs and art from the web are generally created at
too low a resolution to reproduce well.

For Quick-Copy Printing: Provide the original photo for best results unless you are sending a digitized file and
your file includes scanned photos. In this case, there will be no loss of quality.
If you are providing a hard copy for DocuTech reproduction, the copier will screen
and position your photo. If you provide an already-printed photo from another publication,
it may develop a moiré pattern during re-screening.

For Offset Printing: Because electronic scanning equipment is calibrated to its companion press equipment,
it is best to bring in your original photo and allow it to be scanned on our equipment.